Florida Panthers

The Springfield Thunderbirds are proud to be the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s Florida Panthers beginning in the 2016-17 season.

Based out of the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla., the Panthers are entering their 24th season in the NHL. The 2016-17 season saw the growth of many young stars in Florida, led by Vincent Trocheck's team-leading 54 points. Former Springfield AHL star Jonathan Marchessault became just the 7th Panther in franchise history to score 30 goals in a single season.

The 2016-17 season also saw plenty of Springfield Thunderbirds contributing to the Panthers' efforts. Throughout the season, 12 different Thunderbirds skated for Florida, including three who made their NHL debuts (Denis Malgin, Ian McCoshen, MacKenzie Weegar).